 |  | stevephl
join:2000-11-27
Colorado Springs, CO | Re: This proves that deregulation AND captialism can work Agreed, no governmental intrusion as well as no taxing let the free market take its course. | |
| | | PDXPLT
join:2003-12-04
Banks, OR
1 edit | You guys know nothing about Oregon ... ...and the title of this article is (once again) very misleading. "Rural Oregon" is hardly being served by these companies. It Should be "Small Wireless Companies Serve One Tiny Part of 'rural' Oregon Well". And that part happens to be the richest, fastest-growing city in Central Oregon, and its surrounding area. What is referred to as 'rural' here has pockets of urban-like population density in the form of retirement communities and resorts; e.g., Webformix' primary reason for existing is to serve the Crooked River Ranch resort. And two of the companies listed (Clearwire and ILoveMyWiFi) are actually Metro Bend mobile providers more than the outskirts.
The wealth of this area, coupled with the High Desert geography ideally suited for wireless (mostly flat and unobstructed, punctuated by the occasional butte for towers), make this more of a niche situation than an example of how to provide universal coverage. Most of Central Oregon (and area several times the size of new Jersey) and almost all of rural Oregon has no broadband. Maybe if the TV "white space" frequencies ever do get freed up, that may change (they work well in foliaged/hilly terrain).
Who over said telcos should be compelled to offer a service at a loss? | |
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KeepOnRockin
Music Lover Forever
Premium
join:2002-11-08
Beaverton, OR | Yep, that's about the size of it. | |
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cdigioia
Premium
join:2005-06-08
korea, repub
 ·Korea Telecom
| Agreed,
These WISPs don't provide coverage to "central oregon" per se, they provide it to the Bend metropolitan area. I relatively affluent area with many relatively wealthy retirees.
That still leaves the other 99% of Central/Eastern Oregon without broadband geographically speaking.
However to be fair, while Central/Eastern Oregon is mostly flat desert, there are some hills in the Bend area...at least to make it comparable to most of the inland US which is itself quite flat. | |
| plattypus1
join:2005-04-08
Riverside, CA
 ·Charter Pipeline
| Wisps Work- Now what? Many areas still don't have acceptable options for broadband. If we know that WISPs work in rural Oregon, perhaps an incentive program to start them in areas where they aren't currently in operation would be in order?
I agree, forcing telcos to provide broadband would probably be a disaster. But there's nothing wrong with the government providing incentives for business to serve the needs of it's citizens. No regulation necessary. | |
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wruckman
Ruckman.net
join:2007-10-25
Northwood, OH | Small businesses Small business can do the job and do it more efficiently than big business. Good job! | |
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Nightshade
sic semper tyrannis
Premium
join:2002-05-26
Salem, OR
| Re: Small businesses Small business capitalism will always offer the biggest benefit to the capitalistic model and customers. I have always been a big believer in small business capitalism cause they seem to get the job done and really care about the customers more than the big corporations. Not to mention the customer wins more in the long run because small business capitalism is the model for PERFECT competition. Big corporations are the perfect model for well...governments in a capitalistic society.
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True Happiness Must Come From Within | |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
·CableOne
| Clearwire? Ha! companies (including Qwest and Clearwire) are moving in to the area and increasing the competition. With outrageous equipment prices, low to mid speeds, and long-term contracts, I would hardly consider Clearwire competition.
My former WISP provided free leased equipment and no contract, although the speeds were about the same as Clearwire, and prices lower.
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There comes a point in your life when you get tired of fixing everything and wiping everyone's ass. But it’s not giving up. It’s realizing that you don’t need certain people and the bullshit and drama they bring to your life. | |
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Small Wireless Companies Serve Oregon Well
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This proves that deregulation AND captialism can work
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